Osram Time: 07:15, February 24, 2295

  Bunk 239, Outpost Tumi, Zeeman Crater, Far Side, Osram

  Morning arrived with the harsh blare of an emergency alert. Jabari bolted upright in his bed, the Crystal fragment radiating an uncomfortable warmth against his thigh where he'd kept it through the night.

  The public announcement system crackled to life. "All Kimaris Warband officers report to the war room. Repeat: all Kimaris officers to the war room immediately."

  Jabari dressed quickly, checking that the Crystal fragment was secure in his pocket. The corridors were filled with personnel moving with urgent purpose, faces tense with unspoken concern.

  When he arrived at the war room, he found Laurent N'Guessan already there, standing over a holographic display with Seydou Diop. Wilhelm van der Merwe leaned against a wall, arms crossed, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by something more guarded. Ume stood quietly in a corner in her black red robes, observing.

  "What's going on?" Jabari asked.

  Laurent looked up, his expression grave. "Received a communication request. From someone who claims to have information about the Crystal fragment."

  "Someone?" Jabari raised an eyebrow. "Who exactly?"

  Laurent's head snapped toward Seydou. "The Sand Lotus. The terrorist organization that's been at war with the Imperium for decades? Why would they contact us?"

  An awkward silence fell over the room. Jabari and Seydou exchanged glances.

  "What am I missing?" Laurent demanded.

  Wilhelm chose that moment to chime in, his tone more stiff than usual. "What's that Digital Era adage…'The enemy of my enemy…?'"

  "May as well be Radi-Mons." Laurent's smirk was dangerously calm as he finished. "Care to explain why everyone in this room except me seems unsurprised, Major?"

  Wilhelm winced as he stood straight, leaving the wall. "During your absence, Prince Laurent, certain strategic decisions had to be made."

  "Such as allying with a religious terrorist organization?" Laurent's baritone voice rose.

  "The Sand Lotus assisted us in securing U6-M9," Seydou replied, raising both hands. "Without them, she could have been in the scrapeyard now."

  "I assume consulting me wasn't really an option, huh?" Laurent's jaw tightened, tilting his head.

  Before he could continue, Seydou interrupted. "The transmission is coming through. Should we accept?"

  After a tense moment, Laurent nodded. "Put it through."

  An Imperial woman appeared in the hologram, her striking features rendered in blue-tinged light. Her short, straight-cut bob framed an elegant face—high cheekbones, a small nose, and full lips painted a soft crimson. Her pearl-like eyes held a quiet intensity beneath straight-cut bangs, revealing both compassion and shrewdness, the floral patterns on the flowing kimono she wore complemented her. There was something both youthful and timeless about her presence—the bearing of someone who had witnessed far more than her apparent age would suggest.

  "Fuuka! It's been some time." Jabari stepped forward, unable to contain his relief.

  The woman smiled, her amber eyes warming. "Lieutenant Adomako. I'm pleased to see you well." Her gaze swept the room, acknowledging each person. "Wilhelm, Seydou." Her eyes lingered on Ume. "And Ume, of course."

  Jabari's posture stiffened, noting her choice to address him with distancing formality.

  "Rishi Natsukawa," Laurent cut in, addressing her by title and surname. "This is unexpected."

  "Prince N'Guessan," Fuuka bowed slightly. "Your return brings joy to many hearts. The rumors of your death were greatly exaggerated, it seems."

  "As were reports of the Sand Lotus's commitment to peace," Laurent's voice was cool as he retorted. "How did you know my current state?"

  "We have — reliable sources." the Rishi tilted her head.

  "I'm afraid without disclosing said sources, cooperation would be difficult." Laurent crossed his arms.

  "It'd involve disclosing details of your…recent visits to Venus." The corner of Fuuka's crimson lips lifted into a sly smile.

  Jabari noticed Laurent's eyes narrowing. Next to him, Wilhelm's posture tensed almost imperceptibly. A brief moment of silence passed before the Prince relented. "In my absence, you've formed a tenuous pact with the Kimaris Warband. An explanation, perhaps?"

  Fuuka's expression remained unreadable. "Times of crisis forge unusual bond. The Fenris Horde grows daily, and the Moondust Crystal fragments must be retrieved before they fall into the wrong hands."

  "The wrong hands." Laurent seized on the words, a sly grin. "Last I heard, you don't even plan on using it."

  "Not in its full form, no." Fuuka replied as she lifted a finger. "That the Crystal is a sacred artifact not fit for human or Radi-Mon, of this there is no doubt."

  "Yet despite that, the Sand Lotus have decided to aid us, a faction which has all the good reasons to deploy it." The Prince replied.

  "After the Imperium's annexation of Taiwan, we're fully aware that we cannot subvert it on our own." Fuuka stepped aside, and a new figure entered the frame. "I've brought someone who can offer more insight."

  The man who appeared was tall and imposing, with a weathered face that spoke of centuries rather than decades. His beard was neatly trimmed, streaked with silver, and his piercing green eyes carried the weight of countless experiences.

  "Elder Thorin H?ggsson," Fuuka introduced, "Sand Lotus High Council member and our foremost expert on the Moondust Crystal."

  "Foremost living expert," Thorin corrected, his voice carrying a faint Nordic accent. "The true experts are long gone."

  Jabari stepped forward. "Elder…Thorin, we've secured the fragment as discussed. But its markings are concerning."

  "Show me," Thorin commanded.

  All eyes turned to Jabari. With a nod from Laurent, he drew the Crystal fragment from his pocket. It pulsed with a soft blue light as he held it up to the holographic scanner.

  The image of the fragment appeared beside Thorin and Fuuka. The Elder leaned closer to examine the runes etched into the crystalline surface.

  "'Harald var hér,'" The Nordic man read aloud, his voice heavy. "Harald was here."

  "You know what this means?" Jabari asked.

  "I used to know the man," Thorin replied grimly. "Harald Omdal, the Archimage of Buskerud. A man whose ambitions know no bounds. Perhaps no planetary limitations either."

  Laurent interrupted. "The mad Nordling scholar who disappeared after the Nucleus Virus outbreak in Scandinavia."

  "The very one," Thorin nodded. "Though 'mad scholar' is too simple a label. For it was Harald who infiltrated the Vault of Primal Urges and divided the Moondust Crystal in year '84, just when the Fenris Horde rose to conquer Earth's Arctic Circle." His voice trailed off ominously. "No doubt he sought to study it in hopes of defeating the Fenris Horde on his own terms…"

  The hologram widened as a third figure moved into frame beside Fuuka. The man who joined her carried himself with the quiet confidence of a warrior-diplomat. His deep bronze skin contrasted with the emerald and ivory of his traditional robes, draped elegantly across one shoulder and adorned with intricate golden embroidery along its borders. Strands of ceremonial beads graced his neck, and a small black bindi marked the center of his forehead beneath strong, arched brows.

  "Forgive my delay," the Djinno man said in his tenor voice. "I am Amir Talwar, Warstaff Master of the Inner Sol Sangha."

  "Another high-ranking Sand Lotus member," Laurent observed dryly. "Is this a diplomatic call or a show of force?"

  Amir's expression remained impassive, but his eyes hardened slightly. "Neither, Prince Laurent. It is a matter of mutual survival."

  "If you want our help restoring the Crystal, simply banning us from using it won't do." Laurent pointed a finger at Thorin, his voice carrying princely authority. "Such restraints are impractical when our enemies won't do the same."

  Jabari nodded at Laurent, grateful for his assertion as he turned to face Thorin. The Crystal fragment pulsed warmly in his pocket, as if responding to the tension in the room. "We're willing to negotiate if you are," he said firmly.

  Thorin stroked his silver-streaked beard, his weathered face etched with concern. "Our intelligence suggests that the Imperium has already breached Door Kaamos using the forbidden Blood Rain Aria. It won't be long before they secure Moondust's main body."

  "Meanwhile, the Alliance has opened the seal on Door Valkyris, albeit with a more appropriate method." Fuuka commented from the side, her kimono sleeve shifting as she made a subtle gesture of resignation.

  "But Valkyris has been infested by an Exo-Horde since Harald's infiltration." Amir's hologram turned to Fuuka's. "Given how we've abandoned it since, I'm surprised the vault door even functions."

  "Exo-Horde?" Jabari's eyes narrowed as he caught the unfamiliar term.

  "Radi-Mons from outside the Sol System." Fuuka added as her attention shifted to Jabari. "Should be none of your concern."

  "As if the Five Realms weren't big enough to house them all, eh?" Wilhelm quipped with a grin.

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  Tension and silence hung between them for a moment, broken only by the soft hum of the holographic projector.

  "See? Our opponents are already in the lead." Seydou cut in, his nervous energy palpable as the others turned to him. "I mean, might soon be in the lead. Technically speaking." He raised a finger for emphasis, his eyes darting between the others.

  "However, given the Directorate's firepower, you should have no need to use Moondust at any point." Fuuka gestured a delicate hand at Jabari, her movements graceful. "You've already retrieved a shard."

  "Well…" Feeling vulnerable as their gaze met, Jabari's cheeks flushed with heat. "I guess we did."

  "Logical fallacy!" Seydou seized the moment, leaning forward with surprising intensity. "At some point, we'll go up against those who have their parts of Moondust. They use it, we don't. Guess who'll win?"

  At that moment, another sound chimed in on the channel. More urgent, with red lights accompanied by sirens echoing through the room.

  "Urgent message from an allied settlement!" Seydou declared as his hands moved deftly over the control panel. "It's from...the Sepulcher of Ysolde!?"

  "Put it through," Laurent ordered.

  The hologram of an Ologun marine manifested next to Fuuka and Amir. The man's deep green exosuit appeared damaged from battle wear. "To all nearby Directorate settlements! The Sepulcher is under attack! Requesting immediate assistance!"

  "Sir?" Seydou turned his head as his fingers paused over the control.

  "This is Kimaris Warband from Outpost Tumi. What's your situation?" Laurent leaned forward, his hands on the projector.

  "Prince Laurent! By the Thousand Gods—" With a sharp static, the Ologun's hologram flickered out temporarily before resuming. "Fenris Horde. They've got multiple Draugs leading the assault. One of them — Skarn! He is here!"

  "The Fenris Primarch?" Wilhelm's blue eyes widened in a mixture of surprise and doubt as he paced closer to the projector. "Now that's a bloody bad joke."

  "Private, Skarn was defeated in year '93 in the Ruins of Oslo. Him showing up here all of a sudden is...unlikely at best." Laurent maintained his calmness as he addressed the Ologun.

  "Sir, you must believe me! I've never seen Draugs that big—" The Ologun raised a gauntleted hand before turning around. "Anansi's Ass. I think he's here—"

  With an ear-piercing static, the hologram broke before disappearing completely.

  "My people rarely lie. But surely the Imperium would have kept Skarn sealed in their own territory?" Laurent tilted his head as his gaze darted between Thorin, Fuuka, and Amir.

  "We received similar claims from our associates in Taiwan last week. Though I thought they were just local militia wanting us to give them more armaments." Fuuka frowned as she spoke, voice cool despite the rising tension.

  "That changes a few things," Amir crossed his arms as he looked at Thorin.

  The Nordling Elder sighed as he placed a hand on his forehead.

  "Elder Thorin," Jabari leaned in, his voice growing firm as he stood next to Laurent. "I know we'd all agree on needing to stop the Radi-Mons when they attack."

  "By my right as Elder, servant to our First Priestess Mu-Shan, I authorize you, Directorate's people, to use the Moondust Crystal BEFORE its restoration to full form." Thorin's posture was straight, his baritone voice sharp, more like a command. "Know that you may only deploy the artifact's power against our shared enemies, and never a member or affiliate of the Sand Lotus."

  "Thank you, Elder Thorin." Laurent's smile was triumphant.

  "We won't let you down!" Jabari could feel his own voice rising.

  In the corner of his eyes, he caught Fuuka looking at him with intrigue, her soprano voice crisp as she replied to him. "I suspect you won't."

  "Fuuka, Amir. I need us to prepare." Thorin addressed his subordinates as he turned to them. "If the Imperium and Alliance somehow emerge with their share of the Crystal, we need to intercept them at all costs."

  Both Amir and Fuuka bowed deeply to Thorin, a gesture of reverence that transcended the holographic medium. As they straightened, Fuuka's gaze found Jabari's, lingering a moment longer than necessary. Something in her amber eyes shifted—a subtle warmth, an enticement barely perceptible but unmistakably present. The corner of her lips curved upward in a smile that seemed reserved for him alone, distinct from her earlier diplomatic expressions.

  Jabari felt an unexpected flutter in his chest, followed by a sudden self-consciousness. He found himself standing straighter, more aware of his posture, his expression. A strange, unspoken connection hung between them through the shimmering light of the hologram. The realization that she might be cultivating his interest struck him belatedly, along with the more unsettling awareness that it was working.

  "May the Great Void Beyond guide your path." Thorin said, his voice breaking the moment.

  "And yours," Laurent replied with a formal nod.

  The holographic transmission flickered and dissolved, plunging the war room back into its sterile lighting.

  Laurent immediately turned to Seydou, already issuing orders. "Check our Moon Yam supplies and other amenities. Power up all defensive turrets."

  "Yes, sir." Seydou replied.

  "Scout ahead with your Anioma. I need to know what we're dealing with." Laurent addressed Wilhelm next.

  Wilhelm saluted with precision before making for the door, while Ume quietly processed the new information, standing next to Jabari.

  No one had noticed the silent exchange between Jabari and Fuuka—a private current in the larger flow of crisis and planning. Jabari touched the Crystal fragment in his hand, finding it warmer than before, as if responding to something beyond the immediate danger.

  Laurent turned to Jabari, his hand extended with quiet authority. "The Crystal shard, Lieutenant. Only psionics like Celine and myself can use it."

  Jabari hesitated for only a fraction of a second, his fingers closing protectively around the shard in his pocket. The warmth against his palm had become familiar, almost comforting. But orders were orders. With a quick nod, he withdrew the fragment and placed it in Laurent's outstretched hand. "Here you go, sir."

  "Thank you," Laurent said, studying the pulsing blue light that emanated from the shard. "We'll need every advantage we can get if Skarn truly has returned."

  The Prince slipped the Crystal into a specialized containment pouch at his belt, then paused at the doorway. His eyes found Ume, who had been watching the proceedings with her characteristic quiet attentiveness.

  "Ume, correct? Get dressed in your combat suit," he instructed, his tone softening slightly. "Make sure your Plasma Handgun is charged and ready. We don't know what we'll face at the Sepulcher."

  Ume nodded, her synthetic features composed. "Understood, Prince Laurent. I will be combat-ready in six minutes and fourteen seconds."

  Laurent's lips quirked in the ghost of a smile before he strode from the room, already issuing orders through his comm unit. "This is Laurent to all DSC troops stationed at Outpost Tumi. Anansi to Dahomey squads, prepare for immediate deployment. Eshu and Faro squads, remain and guard the outpost—"

  As Laurent's voice got out of audible distance, Ume stepped to Jabari's side. "Your vital signs indicate elevated stress levels," she observed quietly.

  "Just processing," Jabari replied. "A lot happened in the last twenty-four hours."

  "Indeed," Ume agreed. "And now we're potentially facing Skarn himself."

  "I'll need to repair your Scarab," Seydou said, turning off the projector and walking to a nearby storage unit. "But I've something else that might help with our mission." He returned holding what looked like a long golden staff. "I was almost done working on this before we left Earth."

  "Is that…" Jabari's stared at the staff, recognition in his voice as he recalled his training in Cape Coast Prep. "a Vibro-Spear."

  "Standard Kimaris issue. The last Scarab Rider we had didn't bother, and Wilhelm said it's…'not his thing'." Seydou grinned.

  The Vibro-Spear unfolded and hummed to life as Seydou presented it to Jabari, its low thrum vibrating through the air. The shaft was cool in Jabari's hands, its surface etched with intricate geometric patterns that reminded him of ancient African craftsmanship. The spearhead gleamed with a deadly edge, housing a green, pulsating jewel at its core.

  "Anything I should know about?" Jabari spoke cautiously as he held the spear with both hands.

  "For when you need to get through those nasty monsters without your mech." Seydou explained, gesturing at a small black button next to whehre Jabari's thumb rested. "Press here to amplify the vibration frequency – it'll cut through most armor like butter."

  Jabari nodded as he lifted his head. "We'll need to get equipped ASAP."

  "Oh yes." Seydou replied with a nervous nod of his own, stepping back towards the entrance. "I'll keep things running here. Celine should be awake by the time you get back."

  As Seydou left, Ume hesitated, then began, "I've analyzed the available data on Radi-Mon Primarchs. The statistical probability of our survival in direct confrontation is... concerning."

  "Then we'll just have to beat the statistics," Jabari said with more confidence than he felt.

  Osram Time: 08:50, February 24, 2295

  Outside Outpost Tumi, Zeeman Crater, Far Side, Osram

  Jabari's boots crunched on the lunar regolith, each step sending up small clouds of gritty particles in Osram's thin atmosphere. Above them, Earth hung like a brilliant sapphire in the star-strewn sky. The warmth of the Moon Yams still coursed through his body, lending strength to his movements despite the morning's battles. His Plasma Rifle and newly issued Vibro-Spear rested on his armored back, folded and ready.

  Ume walked beside him, her synthetic muscles shielded by gray combat suit adjusting perfectly to the low gravity, her Plasma Handgun fastened securely on her belt.

  Laurent was ahead, his green robes billowing dramatically as he consulted a handheld device tracking the seismic disturbances.

  They quickened their pace, catching up to Laurent. In the next minute, the Sepulcher loomed before them, its towering pillars and dragon motifs a testament to human grandeur, a fusion of Maridian and Imperial architectural designs.

  "This Sepulcher was built after the Svalbard Concordat of '93 was signed. In exchange for our people sealing Ysolde here in Zeeman Crater, the Imperium of Dragons would share the blueprints of their Draconic Fusion Core with us." Laurent paced forward as he spoke.

  "Was that a pact of some kind between us and the Imperials?" Jabari inquired.

  "The Terra Alliance was a part of it, as well. The Imperium would seal Skarn, for the Alliance to not interfere with its internal affairs," Laurent offered with an almost imperceptible shake of his head. "I never liked the whole idea, but Chairman Kofi assured us that it was necessary to fuel our newest Scarab mechs’ production."

  "My Scarab’s designation is KM-233. The technicians mentioned that – fusion core thing – at one point." Jabari nodded solemnly, his footsteps in sync with the Prince.

  "Seydou told me the KM-2 series could last 7 days in the field with a single battery. No recharge. No power-offs." A half-smile crept onto Laurent’s countenance, his short braids swaying in Osram’s wind. "On the contrary, older models could last 2 days at maximum."

  Wilhelm's emerald Anioma jet screamed overhead, its engines cutting through the silence. It banked hard, descending rapidly as Wilhelm's voice crackled through their comms: "We have a situation. The Sepulcher's entrance...you ought to see it."

  The moment turned macabre at the entrance, where green-armored bodies lay strewn like broken dolls, crimson pools of blood staining the lichens and the gray lunar soil beneath.

  "Shango's Schlong!" Jabari breathed, the old curse slipping out as they took in the carnage. Several Ologuns lay decapitated, their helmeted heads placed in a deliberate pattern around their bodies.

  "Skarn's work," Laurent said, his voice carrying a strange note of respect. "See how the cuts are clean? How the heads are arranged? He loves his theatrical displays of dominance."

  "Skarn." Memories flashed in Jabari’s mind as he tried to recall mentionings of the name. "The Atomic News said he's been defeated."

  "The Atomic News says a lot of things. We’d all know better than to trust any of it," Laurent grinned. "Although, this would imply that the Imperium’s failed to contain him on Earth. So much for the Concordat."

  "These deaths are recent," Ume reported, kneeling to examine one of the bodies. "Based on blood coagulation and tissue decomposition in the lunar environment — no more than forty-eight hours."

  "Such convenient timing, hey?" Wilhelm's voice came through the comm, light with humor. "Almost as if someone knew exactly when to strike."

  "Is my assessment errorneous, Major Wilhelm?" Ume looked up, genuine confusion on her face.

  "Nay, nay. It is quite accurate. Irrefutably so!"

  Laurent looked skyward. "Get back to the outpost, Wilhelm. Keep Celine informed. We'll proceed as planned."

  "Are you certain, sir?" Jabari challenged. "If Skarn's really in there—"

  "In a dungeon, aerial support won’t make a difference. But having Wilhelm keep watch above ground could help," Laurent cut him off. "We'd best hurry, before whatever big old Skarn’s planning comes to fruition." He started down the blood-stained steps without waiting for a response.

  Jabari felt Ume's hand brush his arm. "Let’s go," she said softly.

  He nodded, drawing his Plasma Rifle as Ume readied her handgun. Above them, Wilhelm's jet banked away, leaving them alone with their enigmatic leader and whatever horrors awaited in the depths of the Sepulcher.

  The last thing Jabari saw before descending was the Earth hanging in the black sky, a reminder of everything they stood to lose if they failed.

  April 8 (Tuesday) BUT there is a batch of special content prepared for my readers tomorrow at this time.